Shane Silverthorn at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Washington · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Shane Silverthorn
Judge · Yakima County - Superior Court
Biography
Professional career
- Full-time commissioner for the Yakima County Superior Court in Washington, appointed in 2017, with a background in criminal defense law and extensive judicial service across multiple court levels
- District & Municipal Courts: As Judge Pro Tempore in Yakima County District Court, Wapato Municipal Court, and Toppenish Municipal Court
- Silverthorn emphasizes access to justice, transparency, fairness, and impartiality, basing decisions on facts and law, and engaging with the community to understand and support those served
Education
- B.A., Central Washington University (1993) J.D., Gonzaga University School of Law (1997)
Additional information
- Judicial officer for the Yakima County Superior Court, presiding over family law and minor guardianship dockets.
- handling criminal, traffic, small claims, civil, and bench/jury trials.
- Silverthorn has been recognized for nearly seven years of service on the Superior Court bench
- handling some of Yakima County’s largest and most complex dockets.
- Also active in community engagement and has received endorsements from fellow judges and legal leaders.
- Legal Career: 18 years as a criminal defense attorney, also handling divorce, custody, dependency, and domestic cases.
- Other Roles: Pro tem commissioner in District and Municipal Courts before his Superior Court appointment.
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Recording and broadcasting
Statewide
Washington GR 16 allows video recording, audio recording, and still photography by the news media in courtrooms only after the judge has expressly granted permission.
Video and audio recording and still photography by the news media are allowed in the courtroom during and between sessions, provided (1) that permission shall have first been expressly granted by the judgeWashington GR 16, Courtroom Photography and Recording by the News Media ↗
Statewide
If a Washington judge limits courtroom photography or recording, GR 16 requires particularized findings on the record and treats open access as presumed.
Open access is presumed; limitations on access must be supported by reasons found by the judge to be sufficiently compelling to outweigh that presumptionWashington GR 16, Courtroom Photography and Recording by the News Media ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
Washington GR 16, Courtroom Photography and Recording by the News Media
Yakima County - Superior Court
Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Sources
Identity source checked July 26, 2026.
Biography sources checked October 11, 2026.
Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts official judicial roster ↗Washington GR 16, Courtroom Photography and Recording by the News Media
Statewide source · PDF · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Washington GR 16, Courtroom Photography and Recording by the News Media ↗